civilization

"You may like chocolate, but how would you feel about using cocoa beans as money or in glue? Maybe you'd like to play a ball game for warriors (just be careful you don't become a scarified to the gods after playing). What about living life with a calendar system even more advanced than our own? You could try it all if you lived like the Maya! Discover extreme facts about the Maya civilization in this fun and kooky book"--.

How would you like to use a public toilet every time you had to go? Or compete in an Olympic wrestling event where the only rules were no biting or gauging? Well, that was life in ancient Greece And if you think we're far removed from that life, you may be surprised to learn that a lot in our modern world was inspired by our ancient friends (from alarm clocks and odometers to democracy and art ). Discover extreme facts about ancient Greece in this fun and kooky book.

Did you know ancient Egyptians would shave their eyebrows in mourning if their cats died? Or that the first pharaoh may have been killed by a trampling hippo? You may know that a mummy's brain was removed through its nose before the body was wrapped up. But did you know that the ancient Egyptians threw the brain away and kept the heart as the center of intelligence instead? Discover extreme facts about ancient Egypt in this fun and kooky book.

In this book, readers will learn about the unique and defining features of Netherlands.

Text and illustrations look at a Roman gladiator, focusing on Gladiator school, the Coliseum, training for a battle, the Gladiator's oath, and more.

"At the dawn of Europe's Scientific Revolution, China was a major world power. With million-person cities, vast navies, and a robust trade in luxury goods, China was a country of marvels. The 'Central Kingdom' was also a country of invention. This fascinating resource explores the science and technology behind China's rise to power: the incredible scope, the unique traditions that supported it, and the reasons for the eventual decline of the dynastic era. Readers will learn of agricultural innovations, massive building projects, elaborate machines, and countless inventions that changed the way the world ate, drank, read, waged war, and traveled"--Provided by the publisher.

Contains brief articles arranged-alphabetically, from abortion through "Freakonomics," which cover the people, institutions, events, and developments that impacted the United States and Canada during the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Presents a collection of 3,001 alphabetically arranged entries that define terms related to American popular culture, including music, television, board games, books, and film.

Explores the long and rich history of China's dynasties.